Method of and apparatus for making socketed screws



[April 1, 1941.

W. A. PURTELL' METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SOCKETED SCREWS Filed Oct. 6, 1938 {fix 2 1 547 54 a O/ L m ,l'f' 7 l4 /2 1 Z f 3' 1 z 4 L a ///0 4 Z Hg' .5 v

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47- TO/PNEY Patented Apr. 1, 1941 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SOCKETED SCREWS William A. Purt ell, West Hartford, Conn., assignor, to The Holo-Krome Screw Corporation, a corporation of Connecticut Application October 6, 1938, Serial No. 233,611

23 Claims.

My invention relates to. methods of and apparatus for making socketed screws.

It has among its objects to provide an improved method of and apparatus for making such screws which, while adapted to use in connection with all sizes of screws, is especially adapted to expedite and cheapen manufacture of long sizes of such screws. A further object of my invention is to provide such an improved method and apparatus whereby it is made possible, while utilizing drawing, to form the screw without substantial elongation and completely in one machine, as distinguished from requiring objectionable extrusion and a preliminary forming operation or operations in one or more machines, followed by an anneal, and socketing in another machine, all whereby the necessary equipment, handling, and costs are materially reduced as compared with previous methods and apparatus utilizing drawing. A still further object of my invention is to provide such an improved method and apparatus especially adapted to be carried out in a conventional type of heading machine with a minimum of modification therein, and whereby the speed of manufacture may be very substantially increased, while the cost is also substantially decreased. These and other objects and advantages of my improvements will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown for purposes of illustration certain embodiments which may be used in practicing my improved method and which my improved apparatus may assume in practice.

In the drawing- Figure l is a partial sectionalview of a two blow header equipped with my improved apparatus, certain parts being shown in section to facilitate illustration;

Fig. 2 is a detail elevation of the gate-mechanism, the view being taken on lines 2-4 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of. the forming die with a blank therein after being operated on by one form of punch;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the blank in the same die but about to be socketed by an hexagonal punch, and

Fig. 5 is a view similar tov Figure 4 but showing the parts at the completion of the socketing operation.

. wire stock feeding mechanism 2 adapted to feed the stock in a usual manner with respect to.a

usual cut-off knife 4 and usual stop 5, the initial blank or slug 6, after it is cut oil, being moved laterally by a transfer mechanism (not shown) in a usual manner until the blank 6 is opposite an aperture in an improved forming die I and then being operated on by improved cooperating punch and knock-out mechanism, all as hereinafter more fully described.

Referring more particularly to the die I, it will be noted that the same is provided with a conical aperture 8 in its end toward the blank, which aperture 8 is herein surrounded by a fiat annular end face 9. The sloping walls of this aperture 8 lead rearwardly and connect the same with an axial aperture ID of cylindrical form throughout its length, the diameter of this aperture l0 herein being that of the finished screws and the aperture l0 also being somewhat longer than the finished screws. Further, it will be noted that a knock-out pin H extends into the remote end of this aperture Hi, this pin ll being operated by usual knock-out operating'mechanism I2 on the header in such manner as successively to assume the positions shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5, while each screw is being formed.

Cooperating with the blank when in the position shown in Figure 1, is'a punch I3 carried on the header gate l4 and adapted to engage the outer end of the blank 6 and force the other end of the latter to drive back the projected knockout pin H as the blank enters the aperture I0. This punch, is. provided with a projecting end l5, preferably rounded and tapered as shown and having its base surrounded by an inclined flange or collar I 6. Thus, the end IS on the punch I: when engaging the adjacent end of the blank 6, not only forces the latter into the axially apertured die 'I while driving back he knock-out pin, but, when the remote end of t e blank strikes the abutment provided by the adjacent end of'the knock-out pin ll, causes the blank to be formed as shown in Figure 3. More particularly, it will than the finished socket, while displacing the metal of the blank as shown at l8 in such manner as to fill out the conical aperture 8 in the die. At the same time, the annular flange or collar is, which it will be noted extends out to or beyond the periphery of the recess 8, confines and shapes the outer end of the blank. I

After the blank has been thus formed into the shape shown in Figure 3, the header operates immediately to cause its gate 14 to present another punch and to cause it to operate on "the blank before the character of the metal permanently changes following upsetting. Herein, this punch is a socketing punch, generally indicated at 20. As illustrated, it preferably has a forwardly protruding portion 2| thereon adapted to enter through the conical recess 8 and of the diameter and cross section of the aperture it. Further, it will be noted that this portion 2| is provided on itsextremity with a smaller hexagonal punch 22 adapted to be received in the recess l1 and preferably surrounded at its base by a collar l6, Figure 4. Further, it will be understood that as the, punch 20 is moved into the recess H in the blank, the knock-out pin i I is released by its controlling mechanism I2 so that it may recede to the abutment position shown in Figure 5 as it is pushed back by the adjacent end of the blank. Thus, movement of the punch 20 causes the hexagonal portion 22 thereon to be received in the larger recess H in the blank, as shown in Figure 4, and continued movement forces the entire blank completely into the aperture Ill against the abutment then provided by the knock-out pin I I, as shown in Figure 5; the metal in the tapered portion I! of the blanlc being drawn inwardly around the hexagonal punch 22 to form an hexagonal socket as the punch2ll moves from the position shown in'Figure 4. to that shown in Figure 5. The blank forming and sodketing'operations then being complete due to the action of the abutment i i and collar 23 during the flnal stages of the movement of the socketing punch 2|, and the blank ready for threading, it will be evident that the blank will be readily ejected from the aperture ill by a reverse operation of the abutment or knock-out pin ll after the punch 2| has been withdrawn.

As a result of my improved construction, it is made possible, while utilizing a drawing operation, and without objectionable extrusion or elongation of the blank, very materially to expedite and cheapen the manufacture of screws, a single machine of my improved construction producing complete screws ready for threading, at the rate of 100 per minute. Further, while not limited thereto, it will be evident that my improved meth-. od and apparatus are especially adapted to the manufacture of long screws; it only being necessary, with a proper length of the axial aperture ill, so to vary the adjustments of the knock-out pin and cut-off mechanism to produce screws of different length from appropriate slugs. Attention is further particularly directed to the fact that, as compared with previous methods of drawing socketed screws, my improvements make it possible to eliminate all necessity for providing either an externally tapered blank or a recessed blank, orfor annealing this and then, in a separate operation, socketing it in the drawing die of a socketing machine; my operations, from the cutting off of the wire to the completed screw, instead being capable of being performed in a single machine. Moreover, during the use of either punch, it will be observed that it is made possible to utilize the same abutment and, thereafter, also of the appended claims.

be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The step in making drawn socketed screws which consists in, drawing and socketing one end of a blank in a drawing die aperture longer than the finished blank while moving said end longitudinally in the die aperture by a socketing tool engaging therewith and moving the opposite end of the blank against an abutment in s d aperture limiting bodily movement of the k as said tool completes the socketing operation.

2. The steps in making drawn socketed screws which consist in, upsetting a head on a blank in a drawing die aperture while said blank is held stationary therein, and socketing said head and drawing the latter in said die aperture while said to use it as a knock-out pin to eject the completed blank is moved further longitudinally into said aperture and into engagement with an abutment therein by the socketing tool.

3. The steps in making drawn socketed screws which consist in, externally tapering and axially recessing a head on a blank while the latter is held stationary in a drawing die aperture, and forming. a turning socket in said head while drawing the latter in said aperture and moving said blan k with the socketing tool longitudinally in said die aperture and into engagement with an abutment therein.

4. The steps in making socketed screws which consist in, feeding a blank axially into one end of a drawing die aperture longer than the finished blank, upsetting and axially recessing a head on the outer end of the blank while the latter is stationary in said aperture, and socketing said head in said die while drawing said blank in said aperture and while the socketing tool moves the inner end of the blank further into said aperture and against an abutment therein.

5. The steps in making socketed screws which consist in, upsetting a head on a blank while in a drawing die aperture, socketing the upset head by drawingsaid head while retaining said blank in the drawing die aperture and while the socketing tool moves the opposite end of the blank longitudinally in said aperture against an abutment therein, and reversely moving said abutment to eject the blank.

6. The steps in making socketed members which consist in, successively upsetting and reducing a head on one end of a blank of uniform diameter as the socket is formed in the upset end and as said end is moved successively longitudinally into communicating apertures of different diameters in the same die while laterally confining the opposite end of the blank in the smaller aperture to prevent the formation of a head thereon during upsetting.

7. The steps in making socketed connectors which consist in, upsetting a head on a blank of uniform diameter while opposite ends oi. said blank are in communicating axial apertures of different diameters in a drawing die and while initially forming the socket, and drawing down said head in said die while said head moves out of one aperture into the other and while further forming the socket.

8. The method of making socketed set screws which consists in, upsetting one end 01' a blank of uniform diameter while preliminarily socketing the upset portion to form the bottom of the socket and diverging external walls on said upset portion and while laterally enclosing the remainder blank an initial recess of a cross section as great or greater than the cross section of the finished socket; and drawing down said upset end through a die aperture to force in the metal thereof around a socketing tool in said recess to finish the the blank.

10. The method of making socketed screws which consists in, inserting a blank longitudinally in a drawing die while limiting the longitudinal movement thereof by a knockout pin, upsetting the blank while the latter is held against longitudinal movement in said die by said pin, socketing the upset blank while retracting said pin, and reversely .moving said pin to eject the socketed blank.

11. Apparatus for making socketed screws com prising a drawing die aperture having an enlarged mouth and an elongated communicating body portion of smaller cross section, mechanism for upsetting a head on a blank in the mouth of said die aperture, and mechanism for drawing said head into the body of the same die aperture while sodketing said head in said drawing die.

l2. Apparatus for making socketed articles comprising mechanism for forming a headed blank having a preliminary punching therein of as great or greater cross section than the finished socket, and mechanism including a socketing tool and a cooperating drawing die aperture for folding in the metalsurrounding said punching around said socketing tool to finish the socket while preventing substantial elongation vof the blank.

13. Apparatus for making socketed connectors including a drawing die having an enlarged upsetting aperture and a communicating aperture ofsmaller cross section, means for upsetting in said upsetting aperture a head on one end of a blank of uniform diameter and forming a preliminary socket in said end while the other end of for forcing said head through said upsetting aperture into said communicating aperture and resocketing operation, said upsetting means and socketing means comprising punches having surrounding collars cooperating with said abutment end of the latter is in said communicating apersocket while preventing substantial elongation of means to preliminarily shape and finish the socketed end of the blank.

16. Apparatus for making socketed screws comprising a die having a tapered aperture and a communicating axial aperture of smaller diameter, mechanism for filling out said tapered aperture with one end of a blank while the opposite ture, and socketing mechanism for forcing the filled out portion of the blank into said" smaller aperture while socketing said portion and moving said blank further into said smaller aperture.

17. Apparatus for making socketed screws comprising a die having a drawing aperture and a communicating axial aperture of smaller diameter, mechanism for upsetting said blank to fill out said drawing aperture while the opposite end of said blank is in said communicating aperture, socketing mechanism for forcing the filled out portion of the blank into said smaller aperture while socketing said portion and moving said blank further into said smaller aperture, and means for operating said socketing mechanism before the character of the metal permanently changes following upsetting.

18. Apparatus. for making socketed screw comprising a die having an axial aperture, mechanism for feeding a blank into said aperture while upsetting a head on one end of said blank, socketing mechanism for forcing the head of said blank into said die aperture while socketing the same, and knockout mechanism including a knockout member forming an abutment during upsetting and retractible as saidsocketing mechanism moves said blank into said die aperture and havducing the blank to uniform diameter while completing the socket.

14. Apparatus for making connectors including means for upsetting a head on a blank in said tapered aperture, socketing means for forcing said head through said tapered aperture into said communicating aperture while forming the socket, and mean in said communicating aperture forming an abutment for the opposite end of the blank dU!.llg upsetting and at the end of the ing means for reversely moving said member to eject the socketed blank. I

19. Apparatus for making socketed screws comprising a die having a tapered aperture and a communicating axial aperture of smaller uniform diameter, mechanism for feeding a blank into said smaller aperture while filling out said tapered aperture, socketing mechanism for forcing the filled out portion of the blank into said smaller aperture while socketing the blank, and

knock-out mechanism having a knock-out pin forced inward by said feeding and socketing mechanisms and reversely operative to eject the socketed blank.

20. Mechanism for making socketed screws comprising a socketing die having an aperture for receiving a head on ablank and a communicating smaller axial aperture, a punch for upsetting and axially recessinga head in said first mentioned aperture on a blank having its opposite end in said second mentioned aperture, a socket-' ing punch having a socketing endreceivabie in said recess while said head is in said first mentioned aperture for forcing said head into said second mentioned aperture while forming the socket, and means for reversely moving the blank in said die to eject the same therefrom.

21. Mechanism -for' making socketed screws comprising a socketing die having an aperture 'for receiving a head on a blank and a commusetting and socketing and reversely movable to eject the finished blank.

22. Mechanism for making sodketed screws comprising a socketing die having an aperture for receiving a head on a blank and a communieating smaller axial aperture. a punch for upsetting and recessing a head in said first mentioned aperture on a blank having its opposite end in said second mentioned aperture, and a socketing punch for forcing said head into said second mentioned aperture amihaving a socketing end receivable in the recessed head in said aperture and a rearwardly located portion of the diameter of said second mentioned aperture, said upsetting punch and said socketing end having collars confining the metal of the blank within said first and second mentioned apertures respectively.

- blank while the latter is being inserted in said die and operated upon by said socketing mecha- 23. Mechanism for making socketed screws comprising a socketing die having an aperture for receiving a head on a blank and a communicating smalier axial aperture, a punch iorvupsetting and axially recessing a head in said first mentioned aperture 'on a blank having its opposite end in said second mentioned aperture, 9. socketing punch having a socketing end receivable in the recessed head in said first mentioned aperture for forcing said head into said second mentioned aperture, and knock-out mechanism having a knock-out pin forced inwardly by the nism and movable reversely to eject the socketed blank from said die.

WILLIAM A. PURTELL. 

